Strength by Angela B. Macala-Guajardo Read Free Book Online

three times as thick as Roxie’s height. Roxie traced up the arm across the torso that loomed over her like a skyscraper with a tattered shirt draped over it. Both giant hands rested on the giant’s thighs, his arms bent like a bulldog’s and ready to trap her if she tried to run. She looked in the face of this supreme being, unsure if she was ready to accept her judgment. He stared back at her with intense grey eyes. Hers went wide.
    It was Daio.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
     
    All the blood left Roxie’s face and her throat constricted. She held up her fists, knowing she had no chance of outrunning someone a hundred times taller than her. She felt like a mouse trapped by a lion.
    “Well, look what I’ve caught,” Daio said, his voice booming, “a little runaway Aigis.” He slapped his hands on the ground a good fifty feet to either side of Roxie and brought his massive face within ten feet of hers. Morning fog swirled to reclaim the air where Daio’s head had just been.
    Roxie could make out her skewed reflection in both slate-grey eyes, including specks of golden yellow that were her eyes.
    “And quite the catch at that.”
    “What do you want?” Roxie tried to sound authoritative, but she heard the strain in her voice.
    “Oh, come on. It shouldn’t take much imagination to figure that out.” He brought his face closer, teeth bared, and Roxie punched him upside the nose. To her surprise Daio’s head jerked to the side and his eyes went wide. Both Aigis stood still a moment, absorbing the sheer force of the blow, then Daio’s face retreated a little. He touched one side. “Someone’s a lot stronger than they were yesterday. Kudos for catching me off guard.” He sniffed, which sounded like the deep hiss of hydraulics, then dropped to his elbows, his hands poised on either side of Roxie.
    “Leave me alone!” Roxie’s voice came out in probably what sounded like a squeak to Daio, who laughed. His foul breath washed over her, making her eyes water. Roxie knew it was a ridiculous thing to say, but she wasn’t able to stop herself from saying those three words any more than she could stop her eyes from showing how terrified she was.
    Daio clamped his hands around Roxie, leaving just her head and hands exposed. She accidentally punched herself in the jaw when her elbows were sandwiched against her chest. She flexed her jaw a couple times, then tilted her head back and let out a cry as the hands squeezed her. When she inhaled, maybe a mouthful of air made it back into her lungs. That wasn’t enough air. She needed more but she couldn’t get it. She pushed with every ounce of new strength, managing to make room for a full breath right before her arms gave out. Daio squeezed her and Roxie cried out a second time. At this rate her legs would snap, collarbone break in two and ribs shatter. She could feel her bones starting to splinter.
    Roxie opened her mouth and bit down on a fold of flesh, desperate for air. Daio roared and let go, spilling her onto the ground. Roxie dropped to her hands and knees, then collapsed onto her back, her limbs lacking the blood to support her, and every bone searing with the pain of shin splints.
    “You little bitch! You bit me!”
    Daio kneeled over her, eyes glowing a molten red, and one hand clamped in the other. She flopped one arm across her chest, blood pounding back to where it belonged. Gulping in air, Roxie rolled onto her stomach and forced herself back to her hands and knees. She had to stand and fight.
    Daio sucked on the skin between one massive thumb and forefinger, then came at her again with both hands. The fingers made a cage around her as she held one hand away with her feet and the other with her back and arms. Modest light came in between the gaps in the fingers, yet plenty came from above, and the air inside was warming. Roxie figured she could keep herself from getting crushed. Maybe.
    One arm slipped on something slick and she almost lost her